Content
- How Flies Reproduce
- how are flies born
- After all, how are flies born?
- Metamorphosis of flies
- Lifetime of a fly
- Curiosities about the fly
Flies are a group of species of the order Diptera present all over the world. Some of the best known are house flies (Domestic Musca), the fruit fly (Keratitis capitata) and the vinegar fly (Drosophila melanogaster).
O fly lifetime it goes through four stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult fly. Like most insects, flies undergo a series of morphological transformations known as metamorphosis. Keep reading because in this PeritoAnimal article we will explain how the fly's life cycle occurs.
How Flies Reproduce
If you're in this article, you've probably already wondered how flies reproduce. Until the 17th century, these insects were thought to appear spontaneously in rotten meat. However, Francisco Redi proved that this was not the case, but that the flies went through a cycle and descended from an existing fly.
As with all insects, the reproduction of flies only takes place in their adult state. Before that happens, the male must court the female. For this, the male emits vibrations that also help to control its position during the flight. That's why flies have a very distinctive sound.
Females value the males' song and its smell (pheromones) is very pleasant. If she decides she doesn't want to mate with this male, keep moving. On the other hand, if she believes she has found the ideal mate, she stays quiet so he can start the mating. The sexual act lasts at least 10 minutes.
how are flies born
The life cycle of flies begins with the egg stage, so we can say that these insects are oviparous, or at least most of them. A small number of flies are ovoviviparous, that is, the eggs explode inside the females and the larvae usually come out directly during laying.
After all, how are flies born?
After mating, the female looks for a good place to lay eggs. The location chosen depends on each species. The housefly lays its eggs in decaying organic debris, such as decomposed meat. That's why flies are always around garbage. The fruit fly, as the name implies, lays its eggs in fruits such as apples, figs, peaches, etc. The number of eggs in each set varies between 100 and 500. Over their lifetime they can lay thousands of eggs.
Before long these eggs hatch. They leave at fly larvae which are usually pale and broad. They are popularly called worms. The main function of larvae is feed on everything you can to be able to increase in size and develop properly. Food also depends on the species of the fly. As you might imagine, house fly larvae feed on decaying organic debris, while fruit fly larvae feed on fruit pulp. That's why you've already found some "worms" in fruit, but they are actually fly larvae.
Metamorphosis of flies
When they have eaten enough, the larvae cover themselves with a kind of capsule of a darker color, usually brown or reddish. This is what is known as a pupa, during this stage the animal does not feed or move. Apparently the pupa is an inactive being, but in reality it is undergoing the process of metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis is the biological process by which the larvae transforms into an adult fly. During this period your body differentiates into three parts: head, chest and abdomen. Furthermore, they have paws and wings. After this transformation, the adult fly leaves the pulpa in the same way as butterflies. In the adult state, they begin the process of reproduction.
The duration of the metamorphosis of flies it depends on the temperature. In summer, when temperatures are at their highest, this process takes place quickly. During the winter the flies remain in the pupa until the heat returns, so flies don't bother in the coldest seasons. If they take refuge well, they can survive in adult form until spring.
Lifetime of a fly
It is not easy to answer how long a fly lives as it depends on the species and living conditions. However, it is possible to state that the life cycle of flies usually lasts between 15-30 days, being considered one of the animals with the shortest lifespan.
The warmer the climate and the better your food, the longer a fly can survive. It seems like a short time, but it's enough to lay thousands of eggs. This efficiency allowed flies to colonize the entire world, adapting to all possible environments.
Curiosities about the fly
Flies aren't just those pesky animals that many think. Some species of flies are very beneficial to humans, so let's explain some fun facts about flies that demonstrate how they are more interesting than they seem:
- Some flies are pollinators. Many flies are pollinators like bees and butterflies. That is, they feed on nectar during their adult state, transporting pollen from one flower to another. Thus, they contribute to the reproduction of plants and, therefore, to the formation of fruits. These flies are family Calliphoridae (blue and green flies).
- predator flies. There are also some species of predatory flies, the vast majority of flies feed on other insects or arachnids that are harmful to humans. For example, the flower flies (family Syrphidae) are predators of pests such as aphids and aleyrodidae. These flies physically resemble bees and wasps.
- They are food for other animals. Other species of flies are very uncomfortable and can transmit disease. However, they are the food of many animals such as spiders, frogs, toads, birds and even fish. Its existence is fundamental for the life of other animals and, therefore, for the correct functioning of the ecosystem.
If you want to read more articles similar to How long does a fly live?, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.